Top 10 Best Used Middleweight Naked Bikes

One the most affordable and versatile motorcycle classes of all right now is the slightly clumsily named ‘middleweight nakeds’ – but don’t let that put you off, they’re often some of the best bikes around, especially if you’re operating on a tight budget to buy maybe that ‘first big bike’.

Machines like Yamaha’s charismatic and fun MT-09 triple, Triumph’s similarly powered Street Triple and Ducati’s V-twin Monster have been not only big sellers for their respective manufacturers, they’re accessible to inexperienced and experienced riders alike, have enough 100bhp performance and nimble handling to be truly entertaining, are sufficiently versatile to be both great around town and acceptable for longer journeys and, perhaps best of all, they’re significantly more affordable than their 1000cc+ ‘super naked’ siblings, too.

That popularity means there is also now a huge choice of different models available ranging from parallel and V-twins to triples and even fours, from manufacturers as diverse as the Japanese ‘Big Four’ to European exotica experts such as Ducati, KTM and BMW and to cover all budgets.

Best of all, though, it also means that, if buying used, there’s now also a huge choice of quality, recent, secondhand examples available at often bargain prices.

Of course, all of that can make any buying choice more difficult – which is where we come in.

So, if you’ve got a budget of, say £5000, and are after a middleweight naked, what’s currently out there, what do they offer, and which is the best for you? Here’s our pick of 10 of the current best.

10. MV Agusta Brutale 800 (2013-current)

That’s right, you can get true Italian naked exotica for under five grand – just about, anyway. MV’s original middleweight Brutale, the 675 triple (yes, it is similar to the Triumph Street Triple, isn’t it?) was first launched in 2012 as the naked spin-off of its F3 675 supersports bike. Both were characterised by gorgeous looks, screaming performance and exquisite but knife-edge handling. Larger, long-stroke, gruntier 800cc versions of both followed soon after and, by consensus, are the better all-round bikes, which is why they, and not the 675s, survive to this day. 

There are plenty of even more exotic and expensive variants available including RRs, RSs and so on, but this budget won’t stretch to those. It’s not the most comfortable, practical or durable. But if you’re brave, £5k will just about snag you an early, base version of the Brutale 800 and you’ll be getting one of the most glamourous, exciting, and exclusive middleweight nakeds around – but look carefully for neglect, abuse, damage and missed services.

Engine: 798cc triple Power: 125bhp Torque: 59ft/lb Weight: 189kg (without fuel) Price: £4,500-£17,000 (new)

9. Aprilia Shiver 750/900 (2007-2020)

 

Here’s one you may be unaware of or forgotten about, but it deserves consideration. First introduced in 2007, then significantly updated in 2010, the Shiver was effectively Italian brand Aprilia’s take on the Ducati Monster, but with a liquid-cooled engine, Honda-style ‘sensible’ looks and quality build/equipment and the versatility (if not quite the excitement) that goes with it.

From 2017 it was updated and enlarged again to become the slightly better still Shiver 900, although that bike is rarer and more expensive still before being finally deleted in 2020.

Many are put off by its rarity - the Aprilia brand hasn’t the breadth of dealers or spares back up as, say, Honda or Ducati and the Shiver remains largely unknown and unloved but that’s doing the bike a disservice. It’s mostly well-built, has an Italian exotic appeal, it's decently equipped with cycle parts such as Brembo brakes and its performance and handling are more than adequate. Find a decent one and you’re unlikely to be disappointed and will certainly stand out from the crowd. £5000 will get you a good, low mileage, late 2017 750.

Engine: 749/896cc V-twin Power: 95bhp Torque: 60ft/lb Weight: 189kg (without fuel) Price: £2900-5950

8. Suzuki GSX-S750 (2017-2021)

Another middleweight naked that’s now deleted and largely overlooked and unloved but deserves better and as a result can be a great value used buy.

The GSX-S750 was introduced in 2017 as a more affordable, less-intimidating ‘little brother’ to Suzuki’s then-range-topping super naked, the four-cylinder GSX-S1000. But where the bigger bike was based on a retuned version of the old long-stroke GSX-R1000K5 motor, the 750 version was based on a version of that from the 2005 GSX-R750K5, which, for an affordable naked, is as good a starting point as many.

On top of that, there’s a full-size chassis (so if you’re after a larger middleweight, it’s worth considering) with inverted forks, radial brakes and smart styling. After that, though, its budget focus takes over. While adequate, the performance and handling are nothing to write home about, clocks are fairly basic digital LCDs and there are few quality touches. For the money, though, it’s a great buy, its mechanicals are as solid as old boots, and it gives the ‘four-cylinder big bike’ experience better than nearly all other naked middleweights. £5000 will get you a decent 2018-2019 example.

Engine: 749cc four Power: 112bhp Torque: 60ft/lb Weight: 213kg (without fuel) Price: £4900-7400

7. BMW F800R (2009-2019)

Replaced in 2020 by the larger, better looking, more powerful, 105bhp F900 R, the 800 version, although admittedly one of the less glamourous of middleweight in many ways more than makes up for it by being both an excellent all-rounder and by having one of the most prestigious badges in biking.

Its inclined parallel twin powertrain is derived from the F800 GS (and before that the F800 S and ST) and, although not the most exciting or characterful, is effective; handling is sweet, it’s better built and equipped than most and is reasonably durable, too.

Admittedly it was never a great success when new, but that’s helped its used appeal driving values down. Find a good, well-looked-after example (and, being a BMW, most are) and you’ll have a trustworthy, quality middleweight roadster – even if it’s not the most enticing! £5000 will buy you a good, late, 2018 example.

Engine: 798cc parallel twin Power: 87bhp Torque: 64ft/lb Weight: 199kg (without fuel) Price: £3200-6800

6. KTM 790 Duke (2018-2020)

Austrian off-road, adventure and naked bike specialist KTM has really managed to get its midweight class of 790s and 890s all muddled up and they’ve only got themselves to blame – the first 790 parallel twin Duke was introduced in 2018, followed by the 790 Adventure in 2019, while 890 versions of both arrived in 2020 only for the 790 Adventure to return as a cheaper option in 2023, before the 890 Duke was replaced by the 990 Duke. Got that? Good – but one consequence of that is the original is now something of a bargain.

Although the later 890 and 990s are more powerful and more impressively equipped, that overlooks the fact that the 790 was better than most in the first place. If you want a light, punchy, lively hoon of a middleweight naked there are still few better.

On the slight downside, yes, it’s now overshadowed by the 890 and 990, in typical KTM fashion it’s a little basic and single-minded and reliability can sometimes be iffy, too. But at around £4500 for a good 2019 example, there’s lots of ‘bang for your buck’, too.

Engine: 799cc parallel twin Power: 105bhp Torque: 64ft/lb Weight: 189kg (without fuel) Price: £4500-8500

5. Yamaha MT-09 (2014-current)

If there was one ‘shoo-in’ bike you might have expected in any round-up of used middleweight nakeds, it is surely Yamaha’s game-changing MT-09. The budget but brilliant crossplane triple was introduced in 2014 and proved a revelation for its combination of accessible, grunty fun yet unintimidating versatility and value – so much so that its huge popularity has revitalized the whole class.

One benefit of that is there’s a huge choice of used examples available, ranging from the 2014-2016 original to the slightly updated/facelifted 2017-2020 variant, the enlarged and Deltabox-framed 2021-2023 model right up to this year’s new (and brilliant) incarnation. The downside of all that, however, is that popularity also means that only the original 2014-2016 bike is available within this budget, which is now a little behind the curve of some newer rivals here (hence its position in this ranking) and may also be showing its age in terms of mileage and condition, too.

Engine: 847cc triple Power: 115bhp Torque: 64ft/lb Weight: 188kg (without fuel) Price: £4300-10,100 (new)

4. Honda CB650R (2019-current)

Honda’s middleweight CB650R may also be a little outshone by rivals such as Triumph’s Street Triple or KTM’s 790 Duke, but it has three major things going for it: First, with the demise of Suzuki’s GSX-S750, it remains the only 600-750cc four-cylinder roadster available, which may be particularly appealing to those wanting a taste of a ‘multi’ as their ‘first big bike’. Two, it’s now been around, in various successively updated forms, since 2014 (initially as the CB650F) so there are plenty out there; and three, it was always conceived as an ‘affordable’ offering so, despite being a Honda and a four-cylinder, it easily falls within our budget.

It's still worth more attention than it often gets, too. That smooth spinning four has a revvy, exciting delivery; its upright posture and typically brilliant Honda ergonomics make it both involving, all-day comfortable and a better pillion option than most and, although not lavishly equipped, it’s good looking and a Honda so is well-built and durable, too. Oh, and if your budget’s even tighter, you can now snap up an earlier 2014 CB650F, which isn’t that much different, for as little as £3900.

Engine: 649cc four Power: 92bhp Torque: 46ft/lb Weight: 203kg (without fuel) Price: £4900-7000

3. Kawasaki Z900 (2017-current)

With great names – the Z900, remember, rekindles memories of Kawasaki’s iconic early 1970s Z1/Z900 – comes great responsibility… and thankfully, the latest generation Z900 mostly lives up to it. The successor to the previous Z800, it’s a great performer, too, with 123bhp from its wailing four-cylinder motor, decent handling, good quality build and equipment and impressive versatility.

On the slight downside, though, in being 948cc and actually a smaller version of the previous Z1000 (rather than an upscaled Z800), it also actually falls in something of a no man’s land between 750-ish middleweights and full-blown, 1000cc super nakeds. As a result, it’s slightly overlooked. If that doesn’t bother you and you like its, er, ‘quirky’, looks, the Z900 is great value and a great performer and £5k will easily get you a decent example of the first generation (without TFT dash, which came in 2020) version.

Engine: 948cc four Power: 123bhp Torque: 73ft/lb Weight: 210kg (without fuel) Price: £4900-9800

2. Ducati Monster 821 (2014-2020)

Another now-deleted middleweight naked it’s easy to get confused about – if only because there are so many different Ducati Monster variants. Most are familiar with the 1990s originals – the initial, hugely successful 900 followed by the 600/620 junior version, with both offered air-cooled Ducati V-twin exotic sporting appeal in an affordable, more practical upright roadster package. 

Those were then both replaced by the all-new 1100/696 in 2009/2008, which then became the 1200/796. After those, however, the 796 was replaced by this liquid-cooled 821 which, with 112bhp, electronics and decent spec proved to be a brilliant ‘bridge’ between the old-style, air-cooled Monsters and the all-new, beam-frame Monster 937 which arrived in 2021.

As such, it’s unmistakably a Monster, has great styling, engaging yet sufficiently modern all-round performance and, perhaps best of all, as it’s now defunct, can be decent value, too. Just beware that, as it’s so jewel-like, it’s not really the sort of bike to use year-round or clock up huge mileages on.

Engine: 821cc V-twin Power: 112bhp Torque 66ft/lb Weight: 179kg (without fuel) Price: £4500-8500

1. Triumph Street Triple 765 S (2017-current)

No surprises here. The Street Triple, in all of its guises since launch in 2007 (initially as effectively a naked version of the Daytona 675 supersports), should need no introduction. As a grunty, characterful triple its transformation into a middleweight naked was a masterstroke; being a Triumph meant that fine sports handling was a given; and as the affordable ‘little bother’ to Triumph’s already established, super naked class defining Speed Triple meant the Striple’s success was all but guaranteed. 

And a big success it was – and has continued to be ever since, thanks in no small part to the British brand’s continuous evolution of the bike.

2013 saw an all-new chassis and styling; 2017 saw its growth to 765cc and the option of the upspecced RS version and there have also been basic S, and sportier R versions, too.

All are brilliant, well-proportioned, charismatic, fine handling, decently versatile and capable of satisfying novice to experienced riders alike. £5000 will get you a good, base S from 2018.

Engine: 765 triple Power: 112bhp Torque: 54ft/lb Weight: 165kg (without fuel) Price: £4700-11,700